Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainYooh
If the public vote is really close, then Council would actually have the authority to vote and make a decision based on the fact that the public is split on it. Say, vote is 51/49 but only 20% of all eligible voters voted. Still gives them a whiff of where people are on the issue, but leaves them freedom to govern. Kinda makes sense.
|
Problem with this is we know the following two scenarios will not produce similar responses:
If the YES vote wins 51-49, Nenshi and council will say the public has been properly consulted, and that the vote shows the will of the people
If the NO vote wins 51-49, Nenshi and council will likely override the vote, claiming that turnout was far too low to make an accurate assessment.
And there's the real problem with this process. For many in council (and Nenshi in particular), this is their "legacy" project, and we all know how much politicians cream in their jeans when there are "legacy" projects involved. So the rather hollow process we're watching unfold feels like a way to satisfy the basics of "public consultation", but that the fix is basically already in. This process has been basically as #### as CalgaryNEXT, except the politicians happen to be on board this time.